Passive Sampling of Atmospheric Hydrocarbons in Rural Texas
Air quality research for residential areas neighboring oil and gas shales is important to ensure proper health among residents. I studied hydrocarbon air quality in rural areas of Texas and New Mexico, within the Eagle Ford and Permian shale. At the University of Texas A&M, I expanded upon results obtained from past air quality research conducted in the Eagle Ford Shale showing elevated levels of selected hydrocarbons. As US oil and gas shales remain abundantly active, further research is needed. In research conducted from 2019-2021, analyzed and prepared by Schade and Heienickle, six residential volunteers were trained to fill out an observational protocol sheet and deploy Radiello® passive samplers (Sablan et al, 2020). Passive samplers measured hydrocarbons containing six or more carbon atoms and were located at six sites across a 250 km2 region. These air samples were shipped to the university laboratory every week; thermal desorption and gas chromatography with flame ionization detection was used for their analysis and will be used going forward in this project. Special attention is paid to known air toxins such as benzene and hexane; past results revealed elevated average weekly benzene levels, at times above 1 ppb. Augmented levels were especially prominent at a home next to an oil production site with a near-permanent gas flare. Hydrocarbons were highly correlated across sites, including a strong correlation between benzene and hexane. Outlier levels of methylcyclohexane and toluene occurred at a residence near an oil and gas waste dump.
Through spatially distributed and citizen-involved hydrocarbon air quality research, people in oil and gas production areas of Texas and elsewhere can learn more about the air quality where they live, and how it is affected by the industry. The residential locations I strive to select will represent those in dense oil and gas production areas in Texas and New Mexico. Shale oil and gas production can increase noise, light, and air pollution in communities. Emitted hydrocarbons like benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and xylene (BTEX) can severely affect the health of people. Specifically, exposures have shown reduced fetal growth, cardiovascular disease, asthma, sperm abnormalities, and respiratory dysfunction (Bolden et al., 2015). Benzene specifically faced stricter regulations by the EPA in the last twenty years due to research showing benzene has a strong likelihood of causing cancer, specifically acute leukemia (Smith, 2010). Beyond direct health effects, hydrocarbons tend to increase the concentration of ozone in the atmosphere, leading to further public health concerns. Concern among people living and being exposed in these areas highlights the significance of this research in determining air quality and potential health effects due to the presence of toxic hydrocarbons.
https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4433/14/4/744